Dismissed NUR student appeals to Ombudsman

Callixte Nsabimana, one of the two students who were recently dismissed from the National University of Rwanda for allegedly disseminating Genocide ideology among fellow students is currently preparing to appeal his case through the Ombudsman’s office. The former fourth year law student said he did not understand the charges against him and that his dismissal was a case of injustice. The charges were reportedly compiled by national security organisations in a report to the university administration after following university politics since early this year. Prof. Silas Lwakabamba the NUR Rector, back in March this year said that his administration was employing the services of national security organisations like the police to root out ethnicity stereotypes among students. At the time, he pointed out that Genocide ideology promoters were creeping up with student guild elections. Soon afterwards, student politics including guild elections at NUR were suspended. Lwakabamba further said that competition among student politicians for the benefits of being guild officials was the leading cause of ethnic stereotypes among student leaders. Nsabimana, along with Frodouard Mbabajende, a medical student, were dismissed for these ideologies and indisciplinary cases which a press release from the university stated as: “making the university ungovernable.” Jean Bosco Rushingabigwi, the NUR media advisor in a phone interview yesterday said that the dismissals were part of the university’s drive to ensure that its students are not contaminated by genocide ideologies inspired by fellow students. “The university considered various points before deciding on the expulsions; those expelled students are connected to the decision to suspend guild elections,” Rushingabigwi explained. On Nsabimana’s decision to go to the Ombudsman’s he referred this reporter to the University Rector whom he said is currently out of the country. The Ombudsman along with his Communications Officer were also not available for comment by press time. Ends